# NTSB ERA26LA193: Bell UH1, N75140, Enterprise, AL, April 4, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 4, 2026, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Enterprise, AL - Coordinates: 31.364017, -85.760655 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3640&lon=-85.7607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202910/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202910 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA193 ## Probable cause The in-flight separation of a turn lock fastener stud, which resulted in substantial damage to one tail rotor blade. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that following an uneventful flight, the pilot-in-command conducted a postflight inspection of the helicopter and noted a missing turn lock fastener stud on the tail rotor driveshaft cover of the vertical stabilizer. Additionally, the leading edge of one tail rotor blade near the blade tip was substantially damaged. The missing fastener was not located. The pilot reported that the fastener had been in place prior to the accident flight and that the tail rotor blade was not damaged. Thus, the fastener likely separated in-flight and contacted the tail rotor blade. The helicopter’s most recent inspection was completed about 2 months and 77 flight hours before the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75140](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75140), registered now, S/N 71-20123, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL UH1 (H) - Registry model: [Bell UH-1H](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (registry code 1181407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming T53-L-13B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53-l-13b) (registry code 41220, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 71-20123 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 5762 - Engines: Lycoming T-53-L13 turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Friends Of Army Aviation-Ozark - Registered owner: Friends Of Army Aviation-Ozark - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, February 20, 2026, 77 hours before - Departed: EDN, Enterprise, AL - Destination: 71J, Ozark, AL - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 5,843 total, 293 in this make and model, 1,026 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,048 total, 324 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KDHN, 16 nm away - METAR: METAR KDHN 041653Z 17006KT 10SM SCT027 SCT100 27/20 A3023 RMK AO1 SLP231 T02670200 $= ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202910. 7.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 16 pages, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20973781&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N75140%20NTSB%20Report%20(29%20May%2026)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from tm 55-1520-210-23P (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20973275&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20Fm%20Helicopter%20TM-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20974404&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.